The Animal Welfare Society (Port Elizabeth) (AWS) is a charity organization which is not affiliated in any way to any other similar organization which may share the words “animal welfare” in their title. Neither is it answerable to any national body; it has its own exclusive registration number: NPO 003-538.

AWS is governed by a Constitution, which specifies the legal position, objectives, powers and the construction of the Society, as well as other details relevant to the running of the Society. This Constitution can be referred to in order to clarify the position of the Society regarding its independence.

As an open shelter, AWS is the only animal society in Port Elizabeth which operates as a pound, offering a safe place for all kinds of unwanted, lost or abandoned animals. At our shelter in Victoria Drive, Walmer, we run catteries, kennels and also have facilities for livestock such as donkeys, horses, cattle, goats, and sheep; and other animals and birds. We have accepted any animal brought to our door, and also run a 24-hour service to deal with the many cases of cruelty and neglect which are reported to us. We also provide a much-needed facility in terms of an animal crematorium which is a direct benefit to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality in terms of reducing landfill costs. We employ three full-time inspectors and our entire staff complement is 27, although we are privileged to enjoy the help of volunteers too.

AWS was founded in 1971 and as a registered NPO, AWS also accepts the “Codes of Good Practice for South African Non-profit Organisations” as recommended by the Department of Social Development. We are in possession of a current Tax Clearance Certificate, audited financials, Annual General Meeting Minutes and our NPO status is in good standing. The need for such a society arose from the difficulty that the municipality in Port Elizabeth was experiencing in coping adequately with the number of stray animals and cruelty cases in the city.

The cost to provide ongoing primary health care in terms of dipping, innoculation, de-worming and sterilisation has eaten into much of our limited savings. We believe that primary health care for animals, particularly those in disadvantaged areas, is of direct benefit to the owners of those animals and the broader community in which they live. Sick animals pose a real threat to the health and welfare of the human component of our community.